GB2328647A - Wheeled transporter with embossed identification pattern - Google Patents

Abstract

A wheeled transporter (10) for the movement of goods comprises a base frame (12) carrying a load platform (14), the base frame (12) being supported on wheels (16), and a frame extending upwards from the base frame (12), in which part of the frame is constructed from tubing (18) carrying an embossed identification pattern (26) at intervals.

Description

DESCR2TION SECURITY MEANS This invention relates to security means.

It is particularly concerned to provide a means of marking mobile goods transporters, e.g. roll-containers, and will for convenience be more specifically described below with reference to roll-containers although it will be understood that it is not intended to be limited thereto.

So-called roll-containers are wheeled transporters used particularly in supermarkets to carry goods, e.g. from the stores to the shelves. They may be loaded at a central warehouse, transported by road transport to a particular retail outlet and then propelled to the desired location. Rollcontainers are made in a variety of shapes and sizes but essentially comprise a base frame carrying a platform on which to load the goods to be moved, the base being supported on wheels and a frame extending upwardly firom the base frame to provide confinement and support for goods loaded on the base platform. Thus the loaded goods may conveniently and safely be manually propelled to the desired position.

Conventionally roll-containers carry a plate welded to the upwardlyextending frame, the plate carrying identification marks such as the owner's (e.g. the supermarket) name and possibly other code references.

Despite this identification means, it has been found that roll-containers are being stolen and their identification plates are being removed and replaced by new plates.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a security means whereby this problem of "recycling" stolen roll-containers can be greatly reduced.

Accordingly the invention provides a wheeled transporter for the manual movement of goods, the transporter comprising a base frame canying a load platform, the base frame being supported on wheels and a frame extending upwardly from the base frame, in which a portion at least of the frame is constructed from tubing carrying at intervals an embossed identification pattern.

The embossed identification pattern may be, for example, the name of a supermarket plus any other desired code identification.

The embossed identification pattern is conveniently formed on the tube, which may be for example mild steel tube, at regular intervals by use of an embossing roll on a flat strip of the tube material. The embossed flat strip is then formed to tubular fonn by conventional means, e.g. by passing through appropriately shaped rolls to bring the longitudinal edges of the strip together and then welding those edges together.

Because the identification pattern forms an integral part of the frame of the transporter, its removal and replacement becomes uneconomic so that theft is deterred. This is particularly so where the frame comprises a plurality of lengths of tube. As each length can carry more than one of the identification patterns, there will be a multiplicity of identification patterns, each tube of the frame carrying patterns at regular intervals but the patterns being randomly positioned with respect to different tubes of the frame.

Moreover, the identification pattern may be embossed twice at each embossing stage so that, when the tube is formed, the pair of patterns embossed appear diametrically opposite each other around the tube. Thus identification patterns are spaced around the tube as well as longitudinally of the tube.

As indicated above, the invention is particularly useful for supennarket roll-containers. These roll-containers conventionally have a rectangular or square base frame to carry the base platform. The base frame is usually made of rectangular or square section metal. usually steel, tube and may be foldable. Thus, although it is possible in principle to apply the identification patterns to the base frame, it is more convenient to apply them to the upwardly extending frame since the formation of the rectangular or square section tube is normally made from the circular section tube. Hence it is more difficult to emboss a pattern that will retain its clarity from flat to circular to rectangular/square section.

The invention in another aspect provides a method of making a wheeled transporter for the manual movement of goods, in which the transporter is formed having an upwardly extending tubular frame, the tubular frame comprising tubular members formed from flat metal strip, a repeating identification pattern having been embossed on the strip and the strip then formed to tubular form with the pattern external.

Preferably, as indicated above, the identification patterns are applied to lie in diametrically opposed pairs around the tube with longitudinallyspaced repeating pairs of such patterns.

The identification patterns are preferably spark-eroded onto the embossing rolls so that the applied pattern stands proud of the tube surface.

Where only one tube size, i.e. external diameter, is to be embossed, then clearly, a single one-piece embossing roll is all that is required.

However, we have also found that at least two different sizes of tube can be embossed by a single roll. The roll to be used for this purpose may be a divided multi-part roll into the centre of which an appropriate fillet can be fitted or removed so as to adjust the roll to cater for more than one size of tube.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a roll container of the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the roll-container of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a roll assembly suitable for embossing at least two different sizes of tube for use in the invention.

In Figure 1 a roll-container 10 has a rectangular base frame 12 supporting a load platform in the form of cross-members 14. Base frame 12 is carried on four wheels 16.

An upwardly extending frame is defined by vertical pairs of tubular members 18, each pair of members 18 curving at their upper and lower ends to define upper and lower horizontal frame members 20 and 22.

Mesh 24 is attached to frame members 18, 20 and 22 to define a loadcarrying cage above the platform.

Each frame member 18, 20, 22 has an embossed identification pattern 26 repeated at intervals along its length. One such pattem is shown enlarged in Figure 2.

In Figure 3 is shown a roll assembly to apply the desired embossed identification pattern to a strip to be formed into tube. The assembly comprises a plain solid top roll 30 which operates under load and a bottom roll 32. Bottom roll 32 has two marking rolls 34 caring the desired identification legend 36 so that it can be applied twice to the strip 38 that passes between rolls 30 and 32. When strip 38 is subsequently shaped to tubular form by conventional means (not shown), the identification markings will not only repeat along the length of the tube, they will also appear in pairs diametrically opposed across the tube.

Fillets 40 can be fitted or removed as required from roll 32 so that the roll can accommodate the embossing of identification patterns at different spacings on strip 38 whereby more than one diameter size tube may be formed by the invention using essentially the same embossing equipment.

Claims (15)

1. A wheeled transporter for the movement of goods, the transporter comprising a base frame carrying a load platform, the base frame being supported on wheels, and a frame extending upwardly from the base frame, in which a portion at least of the frame is constructed from tubing carrying at intervals an embossed identification pattern.

2. A wheeled transporter according to Claim 1, in which the tubing is of mild steel.

3. A wheeled transporter according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the embossed identification pattern has been formed by an embossing roll on flat strip of tube material, the strip then having been formed to tubular form.

4, A wheeled transporter according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the frame comprises a plurality of lengths of tube, each tube carrying a plurality of embossed identification patterns at regular intervals.

5. A wheeled transporter according to Claim 4, in which the patterns on a tube are randomly positioned with respect to the patterns on another tube ofthe frame.

6. A wheeled transporter according to any preceding claim, in which a pair of embossed identification patterns appear diametrically opposite to each other on the tube.

7. A wheeled transporter according to any preceding claim, which is a supermarket roll-container.

8. A wheeled transporter according to Claim 7, which has a rectangular or square base frame which is foldable.

9. A wheeled transporter according to Claim 8, in which the base frame is of rectangular or square section tube and the embossed identification pattern is applied to the upwardly extending frame only.

10. A wheeled transporter according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of making a wheeled transporter for the manual movement of goods, in which a repeating identification pattern is embossed on a flat metal strip, the embossed strip is formed into tubular members with the embossed pattern on their outer surface, and the tubular members are used to form an upwardly extending tubular frame of the transporter.

12. A method according to Claim 11, in which the identification patterns are embossed on the flat strip so as to lie in diametrically opposed pairs on the tubular member.

13. A method according to Claim 11 or 12, in which the identification patterns are spark-eroded onto embossing rolls so that the applied pattern stands proud of the surface of each tubular member.

14. A method according to Claim 11, 12 or 13, in which a multi-part embossing roll is used to apply the identification patterns, the embossing roll having a centre into which an appropriately sized fillet can be fitted or removed, whereby the embossing roll is adjustable to cater for more than one size of tube.

15. A method of making a wheeled transporter according to Claim 11, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.